They say they don’t make movies like they used to. Today’s Hollywood seems to be driven by
corporate formulas meant to take very little risk in order to keep the cash
flowing. They also say that movie musicals are dead, and no one really
appreciates them. Funny thing is, whenever a movie musical is released, they
often do well and get raves (Hairspray,
Moulin Rouge, Dreamgirls, Chicago, Les Miserables and several Disney
animated musicals). There are plenty of talented songwriters and filmmakers out
there dying to apply their skills, and musicals aren’t dead on Broadway,
either. Perhaps the perception is clouded by so many other non-musical films
being released on a weekly basis. La La
Land is the latest musical produced directly to the screen, and it may be
one of the best contemporary movie musicals we’ve seen in decades, drawing on
classic films of the 1930s, 40s, 50s and early 60s.

Emma Stone plays Mia, a small-town native who seeks fame and
fortune in southern California, bouncing from audition to audition while trying
to earn a living as studio lot barista. Ryan Gosling plays Sebastian, a jazz
musician trying to make ends meet and save money for his own club. Their paths
cross several times until they strike up a relationship that blossoms into
love. Mia and Sebastian’s love story is told through several big song and dance
production numbers. Sebastian is recruited by Keith (John Legend), an old band
mate who wants him to play in his new rock/jazz/hip-hop/fusion band. As the
band’s fame takes off, Mia works to write and produce her own one-woman play
that she hopes will give her acting career a boost. Mia and Sebastian’s paths
seem to be headed in opposite directions, taking its toll on their
relationship. Just when Mia is about to give up on her dreams, Sebastian does
everything he can to bring her back for one more try.

Flashing forward five years, we rediscover where Mia and
Sebastian’s decisions take them, and we get a taste of how things might have
been had they made other choices.

La La Land is the
best film of the year, in my opinion, and here’s why. First and foremost, Justin
Hurwitz’s musical score and songs are grand and beautiful, reflecting the perfect
tone for a movie about dreams. Second are the outstanding performances from
Stone and Gosling, who sing and dance as well as they act, which is nearly
flawless. Third, there’s Damien Chazelle’s direction and vision of a throwback musical
in modern setting; meshing perfectly and never clashing. Lastly, there’s Linus
Sandgren’s inspired cinematography, melding grand production numbers into a
modern southern California backdrop, with vibrant colors and novel camera work
(especially a dance scene inside the Griffiths Observatory in which Stone and
Gosling fly).

The most beautiful aspect of La La Land is the way the movie plays out like a traditional
musical for three quarters of the film, and then the final act moves the
audience to a higher level of understanding about the benefit of having dreams.
It’s a wonderful thought to realize that most of us may not realize everything
we dreamed of, but that those dreams often drive us be better people.